Magnetic levitation arrow rest, and components therefore

ABSTRACT

A new and useful structure is provided for supporting and guiding an arrow that is being drawn and released by a bow, in a way that avoids physical contact between the structure and the arrow. Moreover, new and useful components for such structure are also provided. A preferred structure comprises a support magnet for a bow, and an arrow with an arrow magnet in a predetermined position on the arrow. The support magnet is configured to establish a magnetic field that supports and guides the arrow as the arrow is being drawn by a bow. The arrow magnet is disposed in a predetermined position on the arrow, and is configured to react with the magnetic field established by the support magnet, to cause the arrow to be magnetically supported and guided by the support magnet, without physical contact between the arrow and the support magnet, at least partially as the arrow is drawn by a bow and released toward a target.

RELATED APPLICATION/CLAIM OF PRIORITY

This application is related to and claims priority from provisional application Ser. No. 60/481,879, filed Jan. 10, 2004, which provisional application is incorporated by reference herein.

BACKGROUND

The present invention relates to structure providing magnetic support for an arrow, as the arrow is being drawn and released by a bow, and to components of that structure.

When an archery arrow is drawn and released by a bow, it is conventional to physically support the arrow on a support shelf that is often attached to the riser of the bow. Thus, as the arrow is coupled to the bow string and drawn by the bow string, the arrow can ride along the support shelf to position the arrow on the bow. When the bow string is released, the arrow may effectively slide along the support shelf as the arrow is projected toward a target.

In applicants' experience, a physical support on the riser of a bow, while providing support and guidance for an arrow that is being drawn by the bow string, can also interfere with proper projection of the arrow, due to the physical contact that may occur between the arrow and the support shelf. The balance of the arrow, the configuration of the arrow, the manner and orientation of the arrow relative to the support shelf as the arrow is drawn and released, and the amount and nature of the contact between the material of the arrow and the material of the support shelf, can all contribute to whether the arrow will have the projection intended by the archer.

Thus, applicants believe that structure that can provide support and guidance for an arrow that is being drawn and released by a bow, but in a way that avoids physical contact between the structure and the arrow, would be useful and desirable to an archer.

SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

The present invention provides a new and useful structure for supporting and guiding an arrow that is being drawn and released by a bow, in a way that avoids physical contact between the structure and the arrow. Moreover, the present invention provides new and useful components for such structure.

Applicants' preferred structure comprises a support magnet for a bow, and an arrow with an arrow magnet in a predetermined position on the arrow. The support magnet is configured to establish a magnetic field that supports and guides the arrow as the arrow is being drawn by a bow. The arrow magnet is disposed in a predetermined position on the arrow, and is configured to react with the magnetic field established by the support magnet, to cause the arrow to be magnetically supported and guided by the support magnet, without physical contact between the arrow and the support magnet, at least partially as the arrow is drawn by a bow and released toward a target.

The present invention also provides new and useful components for such structure. Specifically, the present invention provides new and useful arrow magnet structure, and new and useful support magnet structure. The arrow magnet may be a magnet that is attached to the arrow point, or the arrow magnet material may be used to form a component of the arrow (e.g. the point or a component of the arrow point, component of the arrow). The support magnet can form a part of the bow, or can be attached to the bow, and preferably comprises a ring shaped magnet with a central opening through which the arrow can pass without physical interference, and which can magnetically support and guide the arrow by its interaction with the arrow magnet as the arrow is being drawn and released by the bow. Thus, the support magnet forms an arrow rest, as well as a guide for the arrow as the arrow is being drawn and released by the bow.

These and other features of the present invention will become further apparent from the following detailed description and the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic illustration of a bow and arrow with structure according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a schematic three dimensional illustration of certain components of the bow and arrow, and particularly the structure and components according to the present invention, as the arrow is coupled to a bow string, and in position to be drawn and released by the bow string;

FIG. 3 is a schematic side view of the components of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a schematic three dimensional illustration of the components of FIG. 2, as the arrow has been drawn by the bow string;

FIG. 5 is a schematic side view of the components of FIG. 4; and

FIGS. 6 and 7 schematically illustrate two ways of coupling an arrow magnet to an arrow, according to the principles of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

As described above, the present invention provides a new and useful structure for supporting and guiding an arrow that is being drawn and released by a bow, in a way that avoids physical contact between the structure and the arrow. Moreover, the present invention provides new and useful components for such structure. The principles of the present invention are described herein in connection with some examples of the structure and components for supporting and guiding an arrow that is being drawn and released by a bow. However, from that description, the manner in which the principles of the invention can be used to form various types of structure and components for supporting and guiding an arrow will be apparent to those in the art.

FIGS. 1-3 schematically illustrate structure for supporting an arrow 100 as it is being drawn and released by a bow 102, according to the principles of the present invention. The bow 102 includes a pair of limbs 104, a riser 106, a bow string 108, and a support magnet 110. The support limbs 104 may be formed, e.g. of laminations of wood, fiberglass, carbon, or other materials that are known to those in the art. The riser 106 is formed e.g. of aluminum or other material that is known to those in the art. The riser 106 is configured with a top end 112, a shelf 114 and a hand grip 116, which are all configured in a manner known to those in the art. The support magnet 110 is formed according to the principles of the present invention, and in the disclosed embodiment is secured to the riser 106.

The arrow 100 can have various types of configurations that are known to those in the art. Typically, the arrow 100 would include a shaft 118 with a point component 120 at a front end, and a series of fletching 122 near the rear end. The rear end is also configured with a knock 123 (FIG. 2) to allow the rear end of the arrow to fit about the bow string 108, as the arrow is being drawn by an archer. The point component 120 of the arrow can be formed e.g. of steel or aluminum, with a point 125 at its end. The point component can be a relatively narrow head with a hunting point at the tip of the head, or it can be a relatively broad head with a hunting point at the tip of the head.

According to the present invention, an arrow magnet 126 forms a part of the arrow point, and is located in a predetermined position on the arrow. For example, as schematically shown in FIG. 6, the arrow point component 120 can have a portion 124 that also forms the arrow magnet, and that portion 124 can be configured to be inserted and fixed in an opening in the arrow shaft (for example the portion 124 can be adhesively secured in the opening in the arrow shaft). Alternatively, as schematically illustrated in FIG. 7, the arrow magnet 124 can be part of a point insert 126 that is secured in an opening in the shaft, and the point component can be inserted into and secured to the point insert (e.g. adhesively, via a threaded connection, etc.). In either case, as can be seen from FIGS. 6 and 7, the magnet is in a predetermined position on the arrow, and according to the preferred embodiments, the magnet is in predetermined relation to the point 125 that is at the tip of the point component 120.

The arrow magnet 124 can be formed of magnetic material (i.e. that comprises a permanent magnet) or from material that can be magnetized as an electromagnet. If the arrow point 125 is formed from (i.e. in one piece with) the material that forms the arrow magnet 124, the material must be of a type (e.g. steel) that enables it to also function as an arrow point.

The support magnet 110 can form a part of the bow, or can be secured to the bow as illustrated in the Figures. Specifically, the support magnet 110 is secured to the bow, preferably to the riser 106 of the bow (e.g. by a bracket, clip or other form of connection). The support magnet 110 is configured to establish a magnetic field that interacts with the arrow magnet 124 and supports the arrow 100 as the arrow is being drawn and released by a bow 102, so that the arrow is magnetically supported and in part by the interaction between the support magnet 110 and the arrow magnet 124 as the arrow is drawn by the bow and released toward a target. Thus, the support magnet 110 also forms an arrow rest for the arrow 100.

The support magnet 110 preferably comprises a ring with a central opening 110 a configured so that the arrow can be at least partially drawn through the central opening and then projected at least partially through the central opening without physical interference from the central opening as the arrow is drawn by a bow and then released toward a target. The ring 110 is also preferably formed of one or more components, that are either magnetic material or of material that can be magnetized as an electromagnet.

A support magnet 110 that is ring shaped is preferred because it is relatively steady, and creates a magnetic field that surrounds the arrow magnet as the arrow is being drawn and released by a bow. FIGS. 2-5 schematically illustrate the magnetic field of the support magnet 110, and the relationship of the arrow magnet 124 to that magnetic field as the arrow is being drawn by a bow string 108. As illustrated, the N/S poles of the support magnet 110 are preferably on opposite faces of the ring, and the N/S poles of the arrow magnet 124 are preferably on opposite ends of the arrow magnet. A radially magnetized ring may also be used.

In addition, when the support magnet 110 is ring shaped, the support magnet should have sufficient strength to withstand the physical and magnetic forces thereon as an arrow is drawn and projected by the bow, and the central opening 110 a should be relatively close to the arrow 110, but with sufficient clearance that the arrow should not physically contact the ring 110 as the arrow is drawn by the bow and projected toward a target. For use with a typical hunting arrow, the preferred dimension of the ring shaped support magnet 110 is 2 inch outer diameter, 1.4 inch inner diameter, and 3/4 inch thickness.

Thus, it should be clear to those in the art that with the foregoing structure, the orientation of the arrow 100 will be magnetically affected by the magnetic field of the support magnet 110, as the arrow is being drawn and released. The support magnet 110 is configured to establish a magnetic field in a predetermined orientation to the bow, to magnetically affect the orientation of an arrow magnet 124 forming part of an arrow that is being drawn and released by the bow. The support magnet preferably includes the central opening 110 a, and the magnetic field incorporates at least a portion of the central opening. The central opening 100 a is configured to allow the arrow 100 to extend through the central opening without physical interference from the support magnet as the arrow is being drawn and released by the bow. The support magnet preferably comprises a ring shaped magnet. Moreover, the ring shaped magnet can be formed of magnetic material.

Additionally, it should be noted that the arrow magnet and/or the support magnet can be formed in different ways, and still perform according to the principles of the present invention. For example, the arrow magnet and/or the support magnet can be formed of magnetic material, and thereby configured as a permanent magnet. Alternatively, the arrow magnet and/or the support magnet can be configured of material that can be magnetized, as with an electromagnet. In addition, while the preferred embodiment contemplates that the arrow magnet 124 is in predetermined relation to the point component of the arrow, it is contemplated that an arrow magnet may be located at other predetermined locations on the arrow, and still achieve the objectives of the present invention. Moreover, while the support magnet 110 is shown as attached to the bow, it is contemplated that the support magnet can form a part of the bow.

Accordingly, the principles of the present invention have been described above in connection with several preferred forms of arrow magnets and a preferred form of support magnet. However, from the description, it will be clear how the present invention can also be used in connection with various types of bow and arrow structures, and for the individual components (e.g. support magnet, arrow magnet) that can be used in such a structure, in accordance with the principles of the present invention. With the foregoing disclosure in mind, there will be other modifications and developments that will be apparent to those in the art. 

1. Structure for supporting an arrow as it is being drawn and released by a bow, comprising a bow having a support magnet, and an arrow with a point and an arrow magnet in a predetermined position on the arrow, the support magnet configured to establish a magnetic field that supports the arrow as the arrow is being drawn by a bow, and the arrow magnet configured to react with the magnetic field established by the support magnet, to cause the arrow to be magnetically supported by the support magnet at least partially as the arrow is drawn by a bow and released toward a target.
 2. Structure as defined in claim 1, wherein the arrow comprises a shaft with a point component configured to be attached to an end of the shaft, the point component including a portion with the configuration of an arrow point, and wherein the arrow magnet is connected with the point component.
 3. Structure as defined in claim 1, wherein the arrow comprises a shaft with a point component located at an end of the shaft, the point component including a portion with the configuration of an arrow point, and the point component is at least partially formed of material that forms the arrow magnet.
 4. Structure as defined in claim 3, wherein the point component is at least partially formed of magnetic material.
 5. Structure as defined in claim 1, wherein the support magnet is formed of one or more components of magnetic material.
 6. Structure as defined in claim 1, wherein the support magnet comprises a ring with a central opening configured so that the arrow can be at least partially drawn through the central opening and then projected at least partially through the central opening without physical interference from the central opening as the arrow is drawn by a bow and then released toward a target.
 7. Structure as defined in claim 6, wherein the ring is formed of one or more components of magnetic material.
 8. An arrow point comprising an article that has a point component with the configuration of an arrow point, the article including a magnet in predetermined relation to the point component, so that when the article forms part of an arrow and the magnet is in the field of a support magnet, the orientation of the arrow will be magnetically affected by the magnetic field as the arrow is being drawn and released.
 9. An arrow point as defined in claim 8, wherein the magnet is connected to the end portion of the article.
 10. An arrow point as defined in claim 8, wherein the end portion of the article is at least partially formed of magnetic material.
 11. An article of manufacture comprising a support magnet for a bow, the support magnet configured to establish a magnetic field in a predetermined orientation to the bow, to magnetically affect the orientation of an arrow magnet forming part of an arrow that is being drawn and released by the bow.
 12. An article of manufacture as defined in claim 11, wherein the support magnet includes a central opening and the magnetic field incorporates at least a portion of the central opening.
 13. An article of manufacture as defined in claim 12, wherein the central opening is configured to allow an arrow to extend through the central opening without physical interference from the structure as the arrow is being drawn and released by the bow.
 14. An article of manufacture as defined in claim 13, wherein the support magnet comprises a ring shaped magnet.
 15. An article of manufacture as defined in claim 14, wherein the ring shaped magnet is formed of magnetic material.
 16. An article of manufacture comprising an arrow having a shaft with a point at an end thereof, the arrow having a magnet in a predetermined position on the arrow, to enable the orientation of the arrow to be magnetically affected by a magnetic field as the arrow is being drawn and released.
 17. An article of manufacture as defined in claim 16, wherein the arrow includes a point component that includes the point of the arrow, and wherein the magnet is connected to the point component of the arrow.
 18. An article of manufacture as defined in claim 16, wherein the arrow includes a point component that includes the point of the arrow, and the point component is at least partially formed of magnetic material, so that the point component also forms the magnet. 